Ponies galore at Dudley Museum

Visitors to Dudley Museum will be champing at the bit to see the 2,500 My Little Ponies trot along exhibition this summer.

The 2,500-strong collection of one of the best selling toys of the 1980s will entrance youngsters and reignite happy memories for parents who remember the ponies from the first time around.

The ‘My Little Collection’ exhibition features 2,500 ponies from the smallest, at less than an inch tall, to the largest at 3 foot tall, as well as books, bags and other merchandise. It will be the largest exhibition of My Little Pony ever staged in this country, and organisers are hoping to put in an application to Guinness World Records for the largest ever single pony collection on display.

‘My Pretty Pony’ first appeared in 1982 as a large, hard plastic pony that winked and twitched her ears and tail. The following year she was given a makeover by Hasbro and ‘My Little Pony’ was born. With small, soft plastic bodies, brushable hair and pretty pastel colours, this simple toy became a hit with little girls across the globe. Over thirty years later, My Little Pony has undergone several style changes but the brand still remains true to its original concept – small brightly coloured ponies who celebrate the magic of friendship. Today it has become a collecting phenomenon, thanks to the popularity of the cartoon series and the unexpected popularity amongst male fans, called Bronies.

The ponies are grouped together in themes with displays including their play stables, beauty parlours and shops; a Pinkie Pie corner entirely dedicated to this popular pony, from small plastic miniatures to a range of plush figures nestled beneath huge cardboard castles; a child’s bedroom complete with My Little Pony curtains, bedspread, board games and bookshelf full of books; the aquatic My Little Pony seahorse range and so much more.

It includes ponies of every generation from the original ‘My Pretty Pony’ to the ‘Equestria Girls’ dolls that are popular today.

Collectors and fans will be particularly interested in the rare mail order ponies, prototypes and collectors’ editions. ‘Nirvana’ ponies – a term used by collectors to describe ponies from around the world, that were not made for retail in the USA or UK – include the sought after Greek Ladybird pony and Spanish ‘piggy’ ponies, as well as examples made in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, France, Italy and Macau.